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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Is it time yet?Can we go out to the barn now?Chilly, muddy, goopy..... Onward and upward. In the middle of chores I had a grain delivery and look who came along for the ride.This is Tipper.She is just a few months old and spends her days at Countryside Feed with her owner.Such a sweet little girl.I can't believe that we are having November weather already...don't remember putting sheets on the horses so early.

Got in the house with just enough time for a shower before heading down to chorus. This was only our third practice and it was one of our all time best. It has to be as good as any therapy out there. When your voices are all in sync, it can bring tears to your eyes.Stopped at the store on the way home...had to get a gallon of milk so I could make rice pudding for my good friend Arlene (and a bowl for us too). Here is one of the best tasting recipes you will ever find. Ready?

Lightly grease a bowl with butter. Add 1/2 cup of rice, 2/3 cup of sugar, a shot of salt, a teaspoon of vanilla....and cover it with 7 cups of scalded milk (I use skim and it is still outstanding). Put in the oven at 375 degrees. When the top gets a little crust on it, stir it in. You do this 2 or 3 times. It will take over 1 1/2 hours or until the rice has thickened all the way to the top of the bowl. You don't want it to dry out. Guaranteed!!!

As soon as I took it out of the oven, the pups and set off to make the delivery in Hamlin. Getting through Brockport was a pain in the butt. They are working on the sewer and waterlines in the village and there are detours all over the place. Bumper to bumper moving one mile per hour.Got home around 5...fortunately, Trina was doing chores.Time to make dinner. Used up some leftovers.Broiled some crusty bread.Heated up Jenny's lentil soup.Made salads topped with leftover chicken from last nights dinner. Mine is the one above. I threw on some pickled beets. Gary's is below...he is less radical.We had dinner theater again...Tonights movie was "The Dutchess." Now I am off to sit in front of the fire with a gigantic cup of hot water and fresh lemon. Night all.

PS....I spoke to Andrea on the phone tonight and got an excellent report regarding my pony Abbe. After I dropped her off on Monday she was hooked to her cart and has been hooked everyday since then. If the weather would just could cooperate, she could be driven around the track outside. That I would like to see.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

It was raining when I woke up...and it must have rained quite a bit last night. Ta Daaaaa! Once again my outdoor ring looks like a pond.The dogs look great with all that mud on their feet and bellies.I groomed all the horses (as they were muddy) and put on their sheets. The wind was nasty.They stayed out in the pasture most of the day.

My class arrived at 1:30 and all are working on projects they started awhile ago.Joan is finishing up her colored pencil drawing.Connie is still adding to her watercolor sketch book.Dick is back after being off most of the summer.Tina has finished her welcome painting and I expect to see it hanging on her door shortly.Mel is back...working on a colored pencil still life.Sandy is painting another horse.

By the time they left, the sky was very dark.

Jen dropped off Cooper around 2 as she had a meeting at the County Legislature. Grampa kept him busy while I finished class.Gucci was posing for you....and so was Phoebe.At 4, Gary picked up Finn when he got off the bus and brought him up to the farm.After many snacks Grampa took him down to flag football practice. Pretty amazing that they would do such a thing at this age.While they were gone, Coop and I went out to do chores.He helped me put the grain in the feeders. I give them all a couple of pieces of apple every feeding until about January. When the apples have been officially picked at Apple Creek, I get lots of them off the ground...the horses love them.He can hardly reach, but that will change by next year.He rode in the wheelbarrow so he wouldn't get his sneakers dirty.Kevin showed up just when we were sitting down to dinner, after which they went home for showers and some buttered popcorn.

Monday, September 28, 2009

When I saw the sky this morning I knew something was up.Went out a little early as I had a lot to do before I trailered Abbe out to Glen Darach. Normally she walks right on the trailer...but this morning something had her spooked and she pulled away from me more than once. After 3 tries she walked on and we were on our way.

Before we left I had to do some serious grooming, as it had rained and she rolled. Why do light horses always do this? Put a sweat sheet on her to absorb the moisture on the way out...regroomed her when we arrived and put on her rain sheet. This is the aisle in Andrea's barn.

Got home a little before noon....cleaned out the trailer, parked it and got in the house just in time for a serious downpour with 55 mph winds! Went out to put the horses in and my umbrella turned inside out.Had leftover pizza for lunch.The next thing ya know....the sky was blue and bright. I put the horses out again and picked the back pasture.The wildflowers are still in full bloom.

It looked good out there....for awhile!Then the wind came up and it poured again!

Cleared up...rained again! Finally gave up and put the horses in for the night.

Today was Gary's birthday. He did not feel well (bad cold) so he spent a lot of time drinking tea in front of a fire. We were invited down to Judy and Randy's for dinner, but he did not think he should pass on his cold. I went by myself.Judy has beautiful flowers all around her house.She set the porch up like a little cafe...and put out an amazing spread...(Yom Kippur began at sundown). Half of the guests were Jewish and contributed traditional dishes.I wish I could remember the name of this cake....Judy made a huge bowl of blintzes from scratch...they were served with strawberries and sour cream. Yummy!I left at 9 and took home a basket of food for Gary. Watched a little "Dancing" and fell asleep.At least I don't have to go out in this weather to put the horses in...more rain tonight and tomorrow. Hope that Abbe was good for Andrea today. Night all.

Abbe

Angel and Maggie

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Weather

Skoog Farm

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Berlin...it's been a long winter

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I am a retired Art Teacher who has always had a passion for horses. Since we bought our farm, I have cared for anywhere from 5-10 of them at
a time. Currently we have only two. Two dogs... Phoebe,a Therapy Dog, and
a second rescue dog...Gucci. There are 2 cats of our own and 1 that belongs to a friend.
My husband and I are both very active as volunteers in our community and have enjoyed living here for over 40 years.
This Journal has opened up my world.
It was started on February 22nd, 2008 and has taken me to so many places.
What a way to travel!

In memory of L'orange Marmalade

lily

daffodils

20

A Navajo quote to Woof Whinny Whisper

FROM GREY HORSE MATTERS...

If you bury him in this spot,the secret of which you must already have,he will come to you when you call;come to you over the far, dim pastures of death.

And though you ride other living horses through life,they shall not shy at him, nor resent his coming,For he is yours, and he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grassbent by his footfall,who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears.People who may never really love a horse.

Smile at them then, for you shall know somethingthat is hidden from themand which is well worth the knowingThe one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his master.

Thank you, Grey Horse Matters.

Elvira

Somewhere in time's own spaceThere must be some sweet pastured placeWhere creeks sing on and tall trees growSome paradise where horses go,For by the love that guides my penI know great horses live again.~Stanley Harrison